Tapered Cork Device For Baseball Hitting Practice

ABSTRACT

A baseball batting/hitting practice object that is shaped as a tapered cork device measuring 1½″ in height and covered with PVC imitation leather. The purpose of the tapered shape is to allow the batting practice pitcher throw the cork device straight, yet by holding it in various positions allows it to slice through the air in a manner that makes it curve or change direction to a controllable degree. This movement of the cork device simulates certain pitches thrown by a pitcher in a competitive baseball game. The small size of the cork device, combined with the movement when thrown forces the hitter to increase his concentration level in order to make contact with the cork device which ultimately should improve the hitter&#39;s skills. When hit by a conventional bat, the cork device is designed to travel only approximately between 75 to 100 feet depending on the hitter&#39;s age and strength. This is important since the cork device is intended for use on small playing areas such as backyards, inside gymnasiums (for winter baseball training) and on a portion of the playing field. The combination of cork and PVC imitation leather generates a similar sound as a regulation baseball when hit with a conventional wood or metal bat.

This invention relates to devices and methods for training in thetechnique for hitting a baseball.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In playing the game of baseball, one must be proficient at hitting aball that is between 9″ to 9.25″ in circumference (rule 1.09 of theMajor League Baseball Rule Book). When a conventional baseball is thrownfrom 60′6″ at 90 mph toward the hitter, the hitter is required to havegood judgment and a physical reaction time within 0.2 second. Often saidto be the most difficult thing to do in any sport, hitting a baseballsuccessfully requires endless hours of practice and training. In anattempt to practice hitting, baseball ballplayers must either go to anindoor facility to hit within cages or nets so that the baseball doesnot cause harm to others when hit, or they must obtain the access of afull size baseball field which is often difficult to get.

When practicing hitting, a common theory among baseball coaches andplayers is to practice striking a smaller than regulation sized baseballobject to enhance hitting skills. The feeling is similar to that ofswinging a heavy bat before competition which will make the hitter'sgame bat feel lighter and improve their muscle reaction; the sameconcept is accepted that hitting a small object continuously beforecompetition will make the baseball look larger when facing a pitcherusing regulation sized baseball. Training with a smaller object forpurposes of hitting will also refine your muscle and hand-eyecoordination since successfully hitting the smaller sized objectrequires less margin for error. Another method of practicing hittingskills is to hit balls that curve or break direction when thrown by apitcher similar to those thrown in a competitive baseball game. An addedelement to further improve hitting skills, as well as increase theenjoyment of the task of practicing would be to practice with a smallobject that can change direction, and also one that sounds like aregulation baseball when struck by a conventional bat. The sound facetis important since all hitters can recognize successful contact simplyby the type of “whack” sound produced when the baseball makes contactwith the bat.

One example of a method for improving a hitter's skills by using asmaller than regulation baseball, is the batting practice baseball inU.S. Pat. No. 5,788,591 to Thomas J. Decker. This practice baseball is65% to 90% smaller than a regulation size baseball, but has all of the“on field” characteristics of a regulation baseball relating to how theball is thrown and how hard and far the ball is hit. In addition, tomake the Decker practice baseball curve or break direction, the pitcherneeds to change his arm angle and “twist” it while throwing. To achievethis, a pitcher must be advanced at throwing a baseball. Also throwingnon-straight pitches with a round ball similar to the Decker practicebaseball, puts additional stress on the pitchers throwing arm. Thetapered shape of our cork device combined with how it rests in thepitcher's hand determines its flight. A minimal level of baseball talentis needed to throw or pitch the cork device so that the hitter cansuccessfully practice his skills. The cork device can be thrownstraight, or made to curve and break direction by simply throwing itstraight (natural to the pitcher), hence adding no extra stress on thepitcher's arm. At this point, we reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,783 toNelson F. Newcomb. The Newcomb patent relates to a practice baseballthat is spherical with part of the surface being flat resulting from theremoval of a portion of the ball. This causes the ball to curve whenthrown without the pitcher having to change his arm angle. However, theNewcomb practice ball is similar in size to a regulation baseball andalso has similar characteristics of a regulation baseball regarding howhard and how far it can be hit. Our invention achieves both hittingenhancing criteria as the cited patents by being small in size and beingable to curve or break direction. In addition, our cork device can beused in a small playing area since its flight when hit by a conventionalbaseball bat is limited by intent.

As mentioned earlier, practicing hitting a regulation baseball requiresthe use of an entire baseball field or with the confines of a battingpractice cage or net. Our cork device was designed to travel a maximumof 75 to 100 feet depending on the hitter's age and strength. This isabout ⅕ the distance of a regulation baseball, allowing use in smallplaying areas such as a portion of the baseball field, a backyard, orinside a gymnasium. Since the cork device does not travel as far as aregulation baseball and the tapered shape of the object restricts the onrolling distance of the cork device, it makes retrieving the cork deviceeasier and quicker therefore, allowing players to practice longer andhit more often in given period of time. The light weight of the corkdevice also lessens safety risks compared to a regulation baseball,which contributes to practical use in small areas and fields that areshared among multiple players/teams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of increasing a baseball hitter's hand-eye coordinationand overall hitting skills, the aim of our invention is to provide ahitting practice device that is: (a) much smaller than a regulationbaseball; (b) when pitched in the manner of throwing a straight ball,can be controlled to emulate a fastball, curve or break directionsimilar to balls pitched in a competitive baseball game; (c) travels arelative small distance of ground when hit therefore, can be played insmall field areas; (d) the combination of interior compound cork andouter layer of PVC imitation leather creates a similar “crack” when hitwith a wood bat and “ping” when hit with a metal bat as does aconventional regulation baseball. Since our cork device sounds just likea conventional baseball when hit, it enhances the “virtual reality” ofhitting the cork device as it relates to simulating a competitivebaseball game, thus providing a certain level of enjoyment whilepracticing or playing with the cork device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the material construction of the cork deviceexhibiting the interior cork by a removal of a small segment. It alsoshows the stitching, which is present in the PVC at the bottom (smaller)portion of the cork device, as well as the top PVC layer that is bondedto the top (larger) portion of the cork device.

FIG. 2 is a view relating to the circumference of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the diameter of the invention relating to the contour ofthe cork device.

FIG. 4 illustrates examples of how to grip the cork device so that whenthrown to the hitter controllably simulates a fastball, curve and otherpitches that are seen in a regulation's baseball game.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It is essential for the cork device to be tapered so that it has adefined larger section and a smaller section. This allows the corkdevice to be placed in the practice pitcher's hand and thrown to thehitter so that the cork device can move in a controlled direction (seeFIG. 4). The overall length of the cork device needs to be approximately1½″, so that it is recognizably smaller to the hitter and presents asizable contrast in size to a regulation baseball. The size and movementof the cork device along with the sound produced when hit, is what makesthis invention unique and desirable for use in increasing a baseballplayer's hitting skills. The weight of the invention is merely 0.50ounces which restricts the travel distance when hit by a conventionalbat. This allows the cork device to be used in small playing areasmaking play and/or practice more attainable.

Referring to FIG. 1, the components of the cork device consist of a coreof compound cork and an outer layer of PVC imitation leather. Theleather is stitched (or sewn) to itself at the smaller end of thedevice, as well as along one side so that it fits the cork devicetightly allowing the device to keep its tapered shape. The PVC imitationleather is adhered to the interior cork at the larger end (5″circumference end shown in FIG. 2) by a bonding agent. A separate PVCimitation leather component circular in shape is then applied to thelarger end using the same bonding agent as previously mentioned. Thisbrings us to FIG. 2 of the attached drawings. The top portion of thecork device is 5″ in circumference. As the cork tapers to the smallerend, the midsection measures 4⅝″ and the bottom narrows to 4⅜″.

The top diameter of the cork device is approximately 1⅝″, whereas thebottom of the device is 1⅜″ as shown in FIG. 3.

In creating this invention for improving ones hitting skills andenhancing the experience of practicing such skills, such components andstructure of the cork device result in achieving the following goals:

-   -   1. an object significantly smaller than a regulation baseball        that can withstand the continuous contact of a conventional        baseball bat.    -   2. an object that can curve or changes direction when thrown to        the hitter in a manner that simulates the flight of a regulation        baseball.    -   3. the result of declaration a and b forces the hitter to        increase his concentration level and improve his hand-eye        coordination over a period of time.    -   4. an object that when struck by a conventional baseball bat        that produces a very similar sound as a regulation baseball,        giving the hitter a sense of successful contact or not, by the        type of “whack” resulting from contact.

1. A tapered cork object used as a batting practice device for baseball players and for recreational baseball entertainment which is smaller than a regulation sized baseball, which is comprised of compound cork, stitched PVC imitation leather and a bonding agent and designed to withstand being struck by a conventional baseball bat.
 2. A cork device as set forth in claim 1, consisting of an inner portion of compound cork made of wood cork particles and outer covering of PVC imitation leather, whereas the top (larger) portion of the device measures approximately 1⅝″ in diameter, bottom (smaller) portion of the cork measures approximately 1⅜″ in diameter, with the height being approximately 1½″.
 3. A cork device as set forth in claim 1 that is extremely smaller than a regulation size baseball and has a tapered shape which allows it to curve to a controllable degree.
 4. A cork device as set forth in claim 1 that has manufactured components of cork and PVC, when struck be a conventional baseball bat produces a similar sound as a regulation baseball.
 5. A cork device as set forth in claim 1 that has a total weight of approximately 0.50 ounces, which restricts the flight distance of the cork device when hit with a baseball bat to a general maximum distance of approximately 75-100 feet depending on the strength of the hitter. 